THE hospitality and music industry has been given a COVID-19 reprieve with restrictions for outdoor dining and outdoor music performances eased last Friday.

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Under the new restrictions, hospitality venues can accommodate one patron for every two square metres in outdoor areas, instead of the previous one person per four square metre rule.

Businesses must use electronic methods like QR codes to record patron entry into their business and keep patron contact details for contact tracing purposes.

A total of 500 people are now able to attend outdoor seated music performances and rehearsals in a public place, subject to the four square metre rule and people being seated.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the community and businesses are doing a great job of working together to keep COVID-19 at bay, which meant the rules could now be relaxed.

“In NSW, we are focused on keeping the virus under control but also ensuring our economy keeps going and these changes will allow hospitality venues to increase their capacity in a COVID-Safe way,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“This is also a big boost for our music industry with more people in NSW able to enjoy music in the outdoors over the summer.”

Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said relaxing the rules to one patron per two square metres in outdoor areas will provide a big boost to hospitality businesses.

“Cafes, restaurants, pubs and clubs can now open up to more people as we enter summer and this will help drive recovery and keep people in jobs,” Mr Perrottet said.

Hospitality venues and organisers of outdoor music performances are still required to have a COVID-19 Safety Plan in place, in order to take advantage of the relaxed restrictions.

The maximum number of people able to attend corporate events is 300, 150 people can attend a wedding, and 100 people can attend a funeral or religious service.

By Emma DARBIN